Macromedia Certification

October 21, 2003 · 11 Comments

I finally got around to trying one of the sample ColdFusion MX certification exams on Learn By Heart (from Webucator). I haven't read the study guide or done any other preparation - I just wanted to see how I'd do as a someone who uses CFMX on a daily basis. It asked a couple of questions on cfchart that I had no clue about and a couple on Verity about which I was similarly uninformed. Of the others I got wrong, two were careless errors on my part (from not reading the question carefully enough and answering too quickly - I finished the exam in 23 minutes), two were "oh, really?" moments where CFMX does something I wouldn't have expected and the remaining few were about specific tags / functions I have never used and so I guessed the wrong answer.
I passed. I got 80%. And I learned a couple of new things about CFMX (e.g., when you say queryname.field[n] inside a query loop / query output tag, it overrides the natural row ordering and always fetches row 'n', although I'd never write code like that).
Several of the code fragments that were presented - "what does this code output?" - were only tricky to decipher because they don't follow best practice (in fact, they were the sort of code fragments that should be taken out and shot!). This emphasizes the value of following coding guidelines: it makes it easier for other folks to figure out what your code does (and remember that 'other folks' may well include you in the future!).
The other observation I have is about questions that went after specific tags, attributes and function usage - if you're using an editor with code hints, these questions are a non-issue: you don't need to know the exact spelling of tag attributes or the exact order of function arguments because the editor suggests them for you. This emphasizes the value of using a code-aware editor (like Dreamweaver MX 2004 or HomeSite+ which ships free with DWMX2004 for Windows).
Got certification? - read more about Macromedia Certification in Tiffany Beltis' "Logged In" column.

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Tags: coldfusion

11 responses so far ↓

1 Raymond Camden // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

Two comments: One problem with the cert test is that there are questions (at least one) that involve things that changed from MX 6 to MX 6.1. Unfortunately the test requires the 6.0 answer, and doesn't really tell you. I complained about this when I took the test, but never really heard back. Others have looked into it (Stephen Erat for one) and I believe they are going to correct the issue. Secondly, I whole-heartedly agree with your comment about tag/function stuff being a non-issue. I always have trouble remember what comes first in the listfind and find functions, but who cares if it takes 1 second for my IDE to tell me.
2 Kirk Mower // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

So that means that you aren't an "Advanced" ColdFusion Developer (incredulous) !? That distinction - between the 90% "Advanced" rating and "Developer" has prevented me from taking the exam. I did very well on my SAT back in the day, thank you, and I never attended any of those "test beating" courses. Why should I have to take so many practice tests to weed out the type of questions you point out ? I think that the fact that the distinction is made is obviously a load feces - you are either certified or you are not. I have never seen an _Advanced_ MCSE, have you ?
3 Scott Barnes // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

I'm about to take my CFMX Cert very soon, and I hope and will keep trying until i get "Advanced" rating. Mainly for personal goals. While I understand the two distinctions between "Advanced" and "Developer" cheapen those who achieve the "Developer" status, you must admit that those who have recieved "Advanced" status actually worked for it and are more aware of the products features and logic. Personally, I think any monkey with under a years experience in CFMX can get "Developer" status, the true test is those who want to achieve "advanced" status. I myself will not rest until I get both Advanced status in CFMX & Flash MX Developer / Designer. Then I'll be a happy mofo.
4 Brian Kotek // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

Actually Kirk, you get "Advanced" status at 80%, which is really not too hard to get if you use CF a lot or do some studying beforehand.
5 Kirk Mower // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

Ok, great. I thought "Advanced" only came at above 90 or 95 percent, such as an A+ grade would merit...I thought I had seen that somewhere anyway -- and while I do use CF on a regular basis I would still contend that a "pass" would be 80% (what is a "pass" anyway ?) and chuck out the "Advanced" wank altogether. If the test were offered where I live, I would take it tomorrow, unfortunately I live in the one Australian state that does not offer it.
6 seancorfield // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

A pass is 65% I believe. So, I'm "advanced" after all... I wonder how I'll do in the other sample exam?
7 Massimo Foti // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

As often a happens in similar test, a few question are supposed top be tricky but simply end up not having that much sense... Often because, as Sean stated, the "trickyness" is caused by pretty obscure code fragments that don't follow best practices. It's an issue that affect other certification test as well. I also agree that remembering each and every tag attribute or function arguments makes no sense if you use a decent IDE. Having said that, I passed with 91% and I reccomend Forta's certification guide (see my review on Amazon)
8 Kwang // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

Although the 65% percent seems low, apparently a few people have trouble with this test...
9 Nat Dunn // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

Quick disclaimer: I am the author of the exams at LearnByHeart.com. My take is that the main distinction between "advanced" certification and standard developer certification is that people who get advanced certification studied harder. It does not mean that they are better developers, just that they have committed specific function names and tag attributes to short-term memory for purposes of doing well on the exam. Even after writing these questions, I sometimes don't remember the answers without a little review. Like others, I let the IDE remind me of the specific details of a function or tag I rarely use at the time that I need it. However, I have tried to make the LearnByHeart exams mimic the actual certification exam, which does test for these things. I'd love to hear from anyone who has taken the real exam and one of the LearnByHeart exams to see if they feel that the LearnByHeart exams accurately represent the real exam.
10 Michael Tangorre // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

Kirk, first off, I think your attitude towards the exam and its certification breakdown is immature. Why would a mere distinction deter you from taking the exam?... do you fear not being deemed "advanced certified"? I felt advanced before and after the test, so it makes no difference to me other than it got me some more money at my current job. As far as your SAT scores go, standardized testing is a complete joke and does not speak well of a persons ability one bit. I went to college with a lot of high SATers and I am way ahead of them in the career game and I only scored 1000 on my SATs! As far as M$ certifications go: Microsoft has it setup in a testing/tiered way meaning that as you obtain more and more passing test scores, you obtain different certs on assocaited subject matter; eventually obtaining their high level certs the further you test, etc. Just a general comment on the MM cert exam for CFMX. The test overall was fair, but their question selection sucks. They should be picking questions which relate to common useage where the insight features of an editor don't really help. I can always look up attributes! Ask questions pertaining to strucutre and proper usage of data strucutres, etc... the piddly questions on cfchart attributes are a waste!
11 seancorfield // Sep 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM

Mike, I don't think the distinction is what stops Kirk taking it... he said "If the test were offered where I live, I would take it tomorrow, unfortunately I live in the one Australian state that does not offer it."

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